Find out how popular the last name Raz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Raz.

Raz, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Raz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raz in America

Raz is the 28618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raz surname appeared 833 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Raz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raz to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Raz

The surname RAZ is believed to have originated in the Middle East, with its roots dating back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran). The name is derived from the Persian word "raz," meaning "secret" or "mystery." It is likely that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who held positions of trust or were known for their discretion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RAZ can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and scholar, Ferdowsi (940-1020 CE). In his epic masterpiece, the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), Ferdowsi mentions a character named Raz, who was a trusted advisor to one of the ancient Persian kings.

During the Middle Ages, the surname RAZ spread across various regions of the Middle East, including Persia, Arabia, and parts of the Ottoman Empire. In the 13th century, a prominent Persian scholar and philosopher, Shams-ud-din Muhammad Raz, gained recognition for his contributions to the field of Islamic mysticism, known as Sufism.

As trade routes expanded and cultural exchange flourished, the name RAZ found its way to other parts of the world. In the 16th century, a Spanish explorer named Juan Raz embarked on several expeditions to the Americas, contributing to the early exploration and mapping of the region.

The name RAZ also has a notable presence in the annals of Russian history. In the 18th century, a prominent Russian poet and playwright, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin (1743-1816), was born into a noble family whose surname was originally spelled "Raz." His works played a significant role in shaping the Russian literary landscape of the time.

Another notable figure with the surname RAZ was Ali Raz (1858-1935), a Syrian artist and calligrapher who was renowned for his mastery of Arabic calligraphy. His intricate works adorned numerous mosques and cultural centers across the Middle East.

Throughout history, the surname RAZ has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, explorers, and writers, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and global spread of this ancient name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raz

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Raz.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Raz was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Raz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Raz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Raz, please contact us.

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